Monday, December 24, 2012

O Holy Toledo

This designing duo, Isabel and Ruben Toledo, have kept me fascinated for years. They are each other's muse and confidant; he is yin to her yang. After meeting in New Jersey as young Cuban refugees, their love of the fusion of art and fashion and a new vocabulary burgeoning in the New York art/club scene propelled the two to a kind of cult status.

via Adrianna Sassoon

Isabel was experimenting with inventive shapes and designing patterns for clothing, working like an architect that brought such heavy hitters like Barney's to come calling. I loved her collection for Anne Klein many years back. It didn't last long because I think it was misunderstood by that customer, but it was memorable. Isabel shied away from the traditional fashion scene and conventional fashion show productions as they were too fast paced for her. She sells to private clients and has a loyal following thru Barney's to this day. Doing windows at Fiorucci's, interning at the Costume Institute at The Met under Diana Vreeland, designing costumes for theatre, and working along side Ruben has led to an illustrious career. She gained even wider recognition when she designed several dresses worn by Michelle Obama.

via Vogue

Isabel's fashions are considered timeless, elegant, structured, and wearable. She looks toward the every woman with edge; an artistic woman who feels free to express her individuality through fashion. Her designs, as well as Ruben's, have received accolades, awards, and several exhibitions in galleries and museums.

Sometimes it is hard to know where Isabel ends and Ruben begins, and vice versa ~

You may recognize Ruben's illustrations from Nordstrom catalogs. Ruben has illustrated books and numerous magazine spreads. His designs grace product labels and he is often collaborating with fashionable friends. His ethereal, whimsical, surrealist style, and his profound knowledge of fashion have placed Ruben in a class by himself.

For Louis Vuttion

Most recently Ruben teamed up with Ralph Pucci (again), and is doing an exclusive line of furniture featuring his surrealist painterly illustrations.

For Ralph Pucci

The Toledos live and work in a creative loft space in Midtown. It's a place where art and life meld together in an unconventional way, just like the two of them.

ph: jason Schmidt

Isabel famously works out hula hooping

After 30 years, the two are still making magic ~
"You've got to love what you do and love who you do it with."

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Having been in the fashion and design business for many years as a stylist, fashion show coordinator, and now the principal of Carrie Leskowitz Interiors, I am passionate about all forms of design and fascinated by those who create it. I love the design process and being challenged by design dilemmas.

My motto is:"A dash of drama goes a long way"

"Style is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma"~ John Fairchild